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Not a particularly interesting anthology, I actually skipped the final story as I had no interest in finishing the book.
 
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justgeekingby | 11 andere besprekingen | Jun 6, 2023 |
It would have been a great start for a new series: the characters are very likable (from the major to the minor ones), there's a mystery to solve, a love story on the making and a writing style (witty & sarcastic) that spice it up! However, due to the premature departure of the author, many questions (most of all about Lou's real nature and the motives at the base of her transformation) are left unanswered leaving the reader hanging...
 
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Lara-IT | 9 andere besprekingen | Feb 3, 2021 |
Until Death Do Us Part by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 5
After seeing her husband kill her father Esperetta flees, not to return until 500 years later. Velkan hurt doesn't want to trust her again but risks his life to save her from his enemies. Also in Dark Bites Anth
 
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wyldheartreads | 11 andere besprekingen | Jun 20, 2019 |
The Dark One
4 Stars

Rosalind Rutherford is in a bind as her sadistic stepbrother is intent on selling her to the highest bidder. Determined to ruin herself for marriage, Rosalind propositions society’s most notorious member, Armond Wulf, Lord of Wulfglen. Armond knows the he must resist the temptation posed by Rosalind for his family is under a terrible curse that is triggered by love. Yet the more time they spend together, the more difficult Armond finds it to stem both the physical and emotional desire he feels for Rosalind.

Armond is a fabulous hero with tremendous inner strength and stoicism in the face of the family curse and society’s affront. He also has a profound sense of honor despite the rumors that abound and is kind and solicitous toward Rosalind and the dowager duchess. Rosalind is a courageous and spirited heroine although she does have moments of intense stupidity that tend to undermine her character. Armond and Rosalind have spellbinding chemistry and their romance is sensual and steamy.

Although the murder mystery subplot is predictable, it does lead to some intense moments and exciting action scenes. The villains are truly despicable and it is satisfying to seem them get their well-deserved comeuppance.

While not all that original, the Wulf family curse is an interesting plot device that works well within the storyline. Nevertheless, more detail could have been included regarding the origins and exact effects of the witch’s spell.

The next two books in the series focus on Armond’s brothers - Jackson the playboy and Gabriel the introvert, and I look forward to reading their stories.
 
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Lauren2013 | 7 andere besprekingen | May 24, 2018 |
The Cursed One
4 Stars

Amelia Sinclair has always been something of a rebel in polite society so when she makes a sensible marriage to Robert Collingsworth, her family expel a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, trouble follows in Amelia’s wake and she is attacked on her wedding night by a creature with claws and teeth. Rescued by Gabriel Wulf, a man whom she once glimpsed and who has since haunted her dreams, Amelia learns that she is now a widow and the target of a pack of vicious predators who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Can Gabriel protect her from them as well as himself for he too has a dark and dangerous secret?

Series note: This is the final book in the Wild Wulfs of London series. Although each installment focuses on a different couple and a different story, it is recommended that they be read in order for the backstories of the characters.

Unlike the previous book in which the romance was tepid and included most of the tropes that annoy me no end, Amelia and Gabriel’s romance is the highlight of this installment. Unfortunately, the rest of the plot is disorganized and lacks a firm resolution.

The attack on Amelia and the creatures' pursuit begins well enough and creates a compelling sense of intimacy. That said, problems soon arise. First of all, the introduction of the Warg race is sudden and incongruent with the mythos of the first two books in which the Wulf family affliction is caused by a curse. Second, the culprit’s nefarious plan is unrealistic as Myra would never be able to replace Amelia in the ton - it is the small things that would give her away in a society fixated on minutiae). Finally, the final confrontation with the villains fizzles out and the resolution is non-existent.

Thankfully, Gabriel and Amelia have good chemistry and their interactions are entertaining as Gabriel tries to curb his desires and Amelia strives to give in to hers.

In sum, an entertaining series overall despite my small issues.
 
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Lauren2013 | 6 andere besprekingen | May 24, 2018 |
The Untamed One
3.5 Stars

Jackson Wulf is determined to break the curse that afflicts his bloodline and believes that he must kill a witch in order to do so. Lucinda is a witch on the run after being targeted by the local Lord who is determined to murder her unborn child. Jackson and Lucinda cross paths in the woods and set in motion a chain of events that will either lead to their mutual destruction or untold happiness. Which will it be?

The basic premise of this series is wonderful and Thompson’s writing style is very immersive. Unfortunately, this installment suffers from the irritating silly misunderstanding and lack of communication tropes that annoy me no end.

Jackson is a charming rogue well on his way to becoming a drunkard and a womanizer. Lucinda brings out his honor and self respect as well as his sense of responsibility, and his scenes with baby Sebastian are some of the sweetest in the book.

Lucinda is strong, self-reliant and resourceful, but holds herself back from loving Jackson out of fear. This inevitably leads to several irritating scenes in which she fails to tell him the truth of her past with the villain and ultimately puts both herself, her son and Jackson in danger.

Unfortunately, despite their chemistry and growing emotional attachment, neither Jackson nor Lucinda are honest with one another which leads to a another series of annoying scenes in which they wallow in their internal angst rather than speaking about their issues openly.

In sum, this one is worth reading more for the suspense plot, which has some intense, tension filled scenes and an exciting resolution, than for the disappointing romance.
 
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Lauren2013 | 3 andere besprekingen | May 24, 2018 |
This was highly entertaining and surprisingly addictive. Only sleep and work got in the way of me finishing this in one sitting. The ending was a little disappointing but it was happy so I can't really complain. I look forward to reading the other books in this sadly unfinished (due to the author's death) series.
 
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Cynical_Ames | 7 andere besprekingen | Sep 23, 2014 |
Stars are for the Kenyon story. The other shorts were pretty abysmal.
 
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libgirl69 | 11 andere besprekingen | Jun 9, 2014 |
I read the first novella in the late Ronda Thompson's Wild Wulfs of London series quite some time ago and really enjoyed it. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get back to these books, but I'm so glad that I finally did. I have a feeling The Wild Wulfs of London is going to become a new favorite series in the paranormal romance genre for me. Ronda Thompson's writing style is very emotionally engaging. She really makes me care about and relate to her characters. Her love scenes are sweetly sensual and each one builds on the last to propel the story along. The bathtub scene where Armond and Rosalind first share some real intimacy was quite steamy. I also enjoyed the light mystery/suspense portion of the plot too. Although parts of it were rather predictable, I could still feel the air of tension surrounding Armond's investigation of the murders and Rosalind's stepbrother trying to keep her under his thumb. Everything just came together to make this book a perfect read that will definitely be placed on my keeper shelf.

Armond is a man tormented by his family's curse which makes its male members turn into werewolves if they fall in love, so he has vowed never to do that. Of course, he didn't count on the sweet, beautiful Rosalind capturing his heart and stirring his passion from the moment he meets her. Publicly, the ton believes that the Wulf family curse is madness, and because of it, Armond and his brothers have a dark reputation. When the story opens, he is already a suspect in a murder case. In spite of his perceived bad boy image and the beast inside him, it is clear right from the start that Armond is far more honorable and gentlemanly than most human men. Even though Rosalind was throwing herself at him, desperately wanting him to ruin her, he didn't completely debauch her and even gave her a plausible excuse for her absence from the party. Throughout the entire story, Armond exercises incredible self-control which is a quality I love in a hero. It was very sweet how he simply held and comforted Rosalind through the night the second time he secretly came to her room, and even after they were married, he gave her the choice of whether to consummate their union and when. Now that's not to say that he isn't seductive. He told Rosalind up front that he wouldn't play fair, and it was really cute how he asks her every day, "Have I told you I want you today?" I also loved his protectiveness. From the moment Armond met Rosalind that instinct in him came out and only increased as his love for her grew. On the surface, his declaration to Rosalind that he would never love her seemed cruel, but it was really just his determination to protect her from everything, including himself, that made him say it.

Rosalind was my favorite type of heroine, one who is kind, gentle and sweet on the outside, but inside is strong and intelligent. She had been badly abused by her stepbrother and he was now prepared to “sell” her in marriage to a man she found loathsome. In sheer desperation, she thought that being ruined by the most dangerous and shunned man in the ton would be a better option, but she didn't count on Armond having a heart of gold beneath his dark facade. I thought that act alone was a pretty bold move on her part, but time and time again, throughout the story, she shows her bravery. She stood up for Armond when he was wrongly accused of murder and gave him an alibi even though it did ruin her. She willingly married Armond and always saw him for the decent man he was rather than the madman waiting to happen that the ton thought him to be or the monster he saw in himself. She instinctively sensed that he would never harm her no matter what form he took, and he always lived up to her faith in him. Rosalind didn't really want to consummate their marriage until Armond was able to give her his heart, but in the meantime, she could barely resist him. She is very curious and loves sharing intimacies with her handsome husband. Rosalind is also quite intuitive, understanding that Armond's sometimes hurtful words are meant to protect her, and looking beneath the surface to his actions which speak louder than his words. She was very intelligent too, figuring out her brother's schemes on her own and trying to put a stop to them.

There are a number of exciting and colorful secondary characters in The Dark One. Rosalind's stepbrother, Franklin and his accomplice made dastardly villains. The Dowager Duchess of Brayberry was a lively old lady who was a true friend to both Armond and Rosalind. Armond's two brothers, Jackson and Gabriel are introduced as well. Unlike his two brothers who are responsible and hard-working, Jackson is a rake with a wild reputation, but incredibly charming with the ladies. It appears that he is going off on a quest to break the family curse and prove himself by finding and killing a certain witch. His story becomes the next book in the series, The Untamed One. Gabriel is the strong, silent type, a man who is very much tied to the land of the family's country estate. He catches the eye of Rosalind's new friend, Amelia who on the surface is a good girl, but deep down is a very passionate young woman who longs to be scandalous. Gabriel and Amelia's story is the last in the series, The Cursed One.

The Dark One has more of the feel of a Regency-era historical romance with a somewhat lighter paranormal element. Aside from Armond having heightened senses and physical abilities, the supernatural portion of the plot doesn't really come into play until the last quarter or so of the book. The rest of the novel is about the mystery and suspense surrounding the murder investigation, and the emotional turmoil that Armond and Rosalind deal with because of the curse and their gradual growth into realizing how much they love each other. Overall, The Dark One was a well-written, well-plotted, emotionally satisfying story that has definitely left me quite eager to get to the next book in The Wild Wulfs of London series.
 
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mom2lnb | 7 andere besprekingen | Oct 31, 2013 |
★★★★ Love at First Bite(Until Death We Do) Part by Sherrilyn Kenyon book 10.6 in Dark Hunter Series

So this DH novella is about Esperetta and Velkan. They were married, hundreds of years ago. They were madly in love, when one night Esperetta's father, Vlad the Impaler, killed her. This enraged Velkan, so much he traded his soul, for vengeance against his father-in-law. But when Esperetta rises from the grave, all she sees us her beloved husband with her father's severed head in his hand. She takes off, how could she ever be with a man like that. 400 years later, she ends up back in Transylvania, with her friend Francesca. She is just bound to run into Velkan. But can she ever trust him again?
 
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Chantelle713 | 11 andere besprekingen | Sep 25, 2013 |
Until Death We Do Part by Sherrilyn Kenyon – Considering that the heroine of Until Death We Do Part is supposed to be the daughter of Vlad the Impaler aka Dracula, I thought this novella had some promise, but sadly, it didn't end up drawing me in as much as I believe it could have if there had been more depth in the plot and characters. I felt like the story was overburdened with mysticism and mythology. In addition to all the usual Dark-Hunter/Were-Hunter/Dream-Hunter mythology, the hero is also a sorcerer and shape-shifter (not a Were-Hunter). While it might seem that this would add a new and interesting dimension to the mythos, I found that it tended to muddy the waters more than anything by making it possible for the characters to do pretty much whatever they wanted. I think that if this had been a stand-alone novella without the Dark-Hunter elements or a Dark-Hunter novella without the other stuff, it would have been a tighter and clearer story. I also felt like the author waited a little too long to explain what precisely had separated Velkan and Esperetta all those years ago. Right up until the end, I was only able to speculate through inference as to why they even considered taking the sleeping potion. Unfortunately, this only added to my confusion. Additionally, the author just about drove me batty with her overuse of the word “it'd” which in my opinion is a clunky contraction, and the editing in general left something to be desired with lots of clumsily worded sentences and confusing passages that even after re-reading, still felt like something was missing.

As for the characters, I liked Velkan, but there weren't enough details about him to make him a true stand-out hero. He was kind of the typical Dark-Hunter who'd been wronged, tortured and killed in his human life and then sold his soul to Artemis for his act of vengeance. I felt sorry for everything he'd been through, especially since he'd done it all for Esperetta only to have her completely turn her back on him for 500 years. I could understand how she might have gotten the wrong idea about Velkan's actions, considering all that she had been through herself and with her having been raised in a very sheltered environment, she was probably rather naïve. However, by all accounts Velkan had been an amazing husband, treating her with the utmost kindness and respect in spite of being a hardened medieval warrior, and she supposedly had loved him as deeply as he had loved her. With that in mind, I found it hard to believe that she would run away without at least giving him a chance to explain. Also, since stories abounded about the cruelty of her father, it was even more difficult to fathom that in all those centuries, she hadn't even considered that she might have been wrong about Velkan. In my opinion, 500 years was taking the dreaded “big misunderstanding” a little too far. Not to mention, when Retta's current venomous sarcasm was added to the mix, it all made her seem very childish and shrewish to me. Even when she finally realized she had terribly misjudged Velkan, it was just too little too late. I could completely understand why he was so angry with Retta and felt that he forgave her far too easily. I think she needed to do a lot more groveling for what she put the poor man through, especially since he had done nothing but look out for her well-being all those years too. I just didn't end up sensing a deep emotional connection between Velkan and Retta as a couple. About the only good thing I can say about them is that it was a unique element to have a hero and heroine who were already married before he was turned into a Dark-Hunter, and that as a result of having their life-forces tied together, she came back to life too. The other troublesome thing is that much like the previous full-length novel of the series, Dark Side of the Moon, there was no resolution to Velkan's Dark-Hunter status at the end of the story.

Although Until Death We Do Part is part of the Dark-Hunter series, there is no specific connecting plot and no carry-over characters that I'm aware of. Readers do get a glimpse of the first Were-Hunter/Dream-Hunter hybrid which might be an important piece of information that I could see possibly popping up again later in the series. It could easily be read as a stand-alone, but for those people who prefer reading series in order like I do, it falls between Dark Side of the Moon and The Dream-Hunter in the Dark-Hunter chronology. Until Death We Do Part had a few unique elements, but it felt like it was rather hurriedly thrown together and didn't entirely live up to its promise, ultimately, becoming a rather ho-hum read for me. Although I'm a bit skeptical of the chances based on other fans reviews, I am hoping that the next few stories improve on the relationship development and overall storytelling, as my interest in the series is sadly beginning to wane. Star Rating: ***

Ride the Night Wind by L. A. Banks - Ride the Night Wind is another short side-story in the Vampire Huntress Legends. It gives the backstory of Guardians Jose and Juanita who are apparently main characters in the series. I don't really know anything more about this couple besides what was imparted in this story, because I haven't read any of the main books in the Vampire Huntress Legends. I almost never read series books out of order, but I can't say that this series stood out to me as one that I knew I would like for certain, and after reading Make It Last Forever, another backstory novella, I just didn't know if I could take such sad endings. As a result, I have yet to try the main part of the series.

Much like with Make It Last Forever, I did enjoy Ride the Night Wind right up until the end. L. A. Banks created two likable characters in Jose and Juanita. I could very much relate to their dreams of becoming an artist and business woman respectively, but having no one who understood or supported those dreams until they met each other. They both were also from single-parent households in poor neighborhoods and had controlling mothers who thought the worst of them, even though they were trying their best. Jose was kind of into the gang-banging scene but had managed to use his art to avoid getting into any real trouble. He had the heart and body of a warrior with a more sensitive side underneath. He had been dreaming of a beautiful woman whose face was hidden in shadows except for her eyes, so when he saved Juanita from an demon attack, he immediately knew she was the one. Juanita was a responsible young woman who took care of her little brother and the household while her mother worked, and all she wanted was to have a “normal” life like other girls her age. Unfortunately, that was not to be. She too had dreams for years of a man who saves her from horrific creatures, but whose face is obscured by a motorcycle helmet, so when Jose rescues her, she knows he's the one.

Normally, I'm not a fan of quick hook-ups like what occurred in this story, but this time I was completely convinced that Jose and Juanita were meant for one another and that they were indeed falling in love even though the story takes place in only about a day. I think having them both dreaming of one another before meeting helped that along, but Ms. Banks also managed to imbue their relationship with tenderness and a deep sense of urgency and longing. They just can't seem to get enough of each other, and the love scenes were really intense and beautiful. That's why just like with Make It Last Forever, the ending of this story was so hard to take. I will admit that it was a little happier than the other novella, because unlike Jake Rider, the hero of that story, and the love of his life, Jose and Juanita are together at the end of Ride the Night Wind with the implication that it is for good this time. However, between the final chapter and the epilogue, Jose and Juanita have been separated for nearly two decades as they each played their roles as Guardians and both have taken other lovers during that time. So, it still broke my heart to have them apart for such an extended period before finally finding each other again.

Ride the Night Wind stood fairly well on its own without me having prior knowledge of the Vampire Huntress Legends, although I have to admit that the epilogue probably would have made more sense if I had known more about the world building and what had taken place thus far in the series. Jake Rider is mentioned throughout the story and shows up as a secondary character in the epilogue. If memory serves, this novella also takes place in the same small Native American community, with one or two of the same characters, from Make It Last Forever. In spite of another unsatisfying ending, I can't deny that the late L. A. Banks' writing is pretty solid and her stories have a certain dark appeal. I'm slowly becoming more interested in the series as a whole and might be persuaded to give it a try. I'm still a little uncertain though, because in spite of knowing that the series is urban fantasy rather than paranormal romance, Ms. Banks definitely has a knack for the romantic side of the story. With that in mind, I'm not sure if I can take more unhappiness if she dishes it up as liberally as she has in these two short stories. Star Rating: ****

The Gift by Susan Squires - The Gift turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for me. I hadn't heard much in paranormal romance circles about Susan Squires' Companion series, so I can't say that it ever really caught my eye as something I'd like to read. That's why I decided to go ahead with this novella without having read the previous books in the series. Now that I've given it a try, I'm very interested in backtracking and learning more about this interesting new vampire world. This is the first time I've read a historical vampire romance and to make it even more unique, the story is primarily set in Morocco, Casablanca to be exact. I don't think I've ever read any story, much less a romance, set in Africa before.

I really liked both the hero and heroine of this novella. Davie is an honorable man who is an officer in the British army. He's been looking forward to finally proposing to the woman he loves, but when duty calls and he doesn't know if he'll come back alive, he does the noble thing and releases Emma even though it breaks his heart to do so. He was also previously held captive, raped and tortured by the queen of the vampires which made him incredibly sympathetic. It just made me want to wrap him up in my arms and love him tenderly like Emma does. Because of his experiences with vampires, Davie would rather die than become one, but fate may have other plans in store for him. Emma is a vivacious and adventurous young lady who would rather risk her life in a dangerous place than to live without the man she loves. I had to admire her spunk in following Davie to Casablanca and her willingness to love him no matter what. She was a very brave woman who fought valiantly by his side in more ways than one. In my opinion, the author did a great job of conveying the deep sense of longing between these two when they couldn't be together, as well as the incredible love and tenderness they shared when they finally did reunite.

From what I can tell, The Gift falls between The Burning and One with the Night, books #3 and #4 of the Companion series. When I first started reading it, I was slightly confused. It took me a chapter or so to sort everything out. In this respect, I think it would have been better to have read the series in order. Also, some characters from previous books appeared, including Ian Rufford, the hero of The Companion, who had a strong secondary role and Beatrix, the heroine of The Hunger, who showed up briefly near the end. I also got the feeling that Davie and Emma were probably introduced in a previous book, because it was mentioned that they stood up for Ian and his wife at their wedding. Once I figured out who everyone was, the story was pretty easy to follow. I feel like I only got a taste of the vampire mythology here, and would love to know more. That, the exotic historical setting, and wanting to read more about Ian, who seems like he would make a great romantic hero, makes me very interested in continuing with this series, only this time I'll start at the beginning.:-) Star Rating: *****

*The Forgotten One by Ronda Thompson - After a mediocre showing on the previous book in the Wild Wulfs of London, The Forgotten One really got the series back on track for me. This historical paranormal novella mirrored the deep emotional connection I felt in the first two stories, as well as the exquisite sensuality. It also had the unusual distinction of the hero being a commoner, a mere stable master, who was also a bastard with no last name, while the heroine was a titled lady about to inherit her family's estate upon her twenty-first birthday. I ended up absolutely loving it.

Anne reminds me a lot of myself. She is the perfect blend of a sweet girl trying to be just a little naughty. She doesn't entirely succeed in her plan though, because she's a little too cautious to fully follow through with it. She adores horses and knows as much about them as many men do, but of course, being a lady, is not really allowed to have anything to do with them other than to ride, which she loves. She longs to be free of the strictures of society, and what she feels while riding gives her a taste of that freedom. The sensations Merrick arouses in her and the way he understands her and is willing to accept her eccentricities also makes her feel liberated. Anne is a young woman who has a positive attitude and tries to look on the bright side of things. She is also a very trusting soul who always sees the best in people. When she turns that implicit trust on Merrick, it nearly overwhelms him. The way she loves him with her whole being in spite of him being lowborn, and even after witnessing him turning into a beast, is really beautiful.

Merrick is an incredibly sexy hero. He knows exactly what to say and do to get a lady's motor humming. He has this lazy, devil-may-care attitude that's extremely appealing, yet underneath it all, he harbors some darkness and resentment toward the upper classes because of his father abandoning his mother. It doesn't take him long though to realize that Anne isn't like most aristocrats. I love how Merrick understands Anne in a way that no one else does. He encourages her to pursue her dreams and desires even if they aren't considered “proper.” When Merrick discovers that his “gifts” go far beyond his wildest imaginings, he is understandably concerned for Anne's safety, but I was glad that in the end, he listened to her and trusted her instincts about his beastly side. His willingness to do anything for her was sweetly romantic.

The Forgotten One was another wonderfully sweet, yet deeply sensual romance. With three out of the four Wild Wulfs of London stories I've read so far being winners, the late Ronda Thompson has earned a spot on my favorite authors list. I'm really looking forward to the final book in the series, The Cursed One. Star Rating: *****
 
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mom2lnb | 11 andere besprekingen | Jan 3, 2013 |
Incredibly annoying heroine made this last in the series a tough read to get through. Overall the series was okay, but ended on a weak note.

http://ktleyed.blogspot.com/2012/03/cursed-one-by-ronda-thompson.html
 
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ktleyed | 6 andere besprekingen | Mar 24, 2012 |
Another installment in the Wild Wulfs of London series. Jackson Wulf meets a young woman unexpectedly who is in the midst of giving birth. She is a witch that he has sought out, believing if he kills her, it will break the curse on his family. Instead he helps her and falls for her and her baby. Forced to marry, they try to come to terms with each other and seek the answer to break the curse. A good story, though their constant misunderstanding of each other's feelings drove me crazy!

http://ktleyed.blogspot.com/2011/08/untamed-one-by-ronda-thompson.html
 
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ktleyed | 3 andere besprekingen | Aug 6, 2011 |
Great first installment in the Wild Wulfs of London paranormal Regency series of four brothers that are cursed to be werewolves unless they can break the curse. Armond Wulf meets the love of his life who needs his help from her brutal stepbrother. Armond marries her to save her reputation and the terror of her stepbrother even though he has sworn he'd never marry or fall in love. He finds himself at the mercy of his family curse - will his new wife accept him as he is once she finds out the truth about him? I loved this book, eager to read the next. Worthwhile historical paranormal!

http://ktleyed.blogspot.com/2011/04/dark-one-by-ronda-thompson.html
 
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ktleyed | 7 andere besprekingen | Apr 24, 2011 |
That time of the month may mean PMS complete with mood swings and cramps for your average model, but for supermodel Lou Kinipski, lately it's meant odd hairy patches and showing more fang than she's used to. With her trusty bag full of beauty tricks and her loyal sidekick and make-up whiz best friend at her side, she's a girl at the top of her game.

Except for the nightmares. And the hot detective that's come knocking due to a sudden rash of mysterious deaths - and the dead girls all share a distressing resemblance to Lou...

Ehhh... Not stellar. The first chapter sucked me in, but it just didn't gel for me.½
 
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SunnySD | 9 andere besprekingen | Sep 13, 2010 |
Two Minute Review for “The Cursed One” by Ronda Thompson

Amelia Sinclair is married and widowed all in one night. The man who saves her from the Wargs is cursed with fur as well. Wargs are shape shifting wolves, more beast than human. I enjoyed this bit of light reading, both Amelia and Gabriel Wulf are enjoyable characters. They are rather transparent and rather shallow but too sweet for words. I was frustrated that I knew some of the plot twists before one chapter in.
 
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mary1963 | 6 andere besprekingen | Mar 7, 2010 |
I'm honestly suprised...this book is not that bad so far. I stood forever in front of Targets book shelves debating on a book to get, not wanting to spend the 15 dollars so grabbed the cheaper one that caught my attention, not really having much faith it would pan into something worth writing about...but based on being halfway through already, I would read the next should one come out.The idea of synthetic werewolves, and the mystery surrounding the main character is enough to keep me reading. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
 
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Kace | 9 andere besprekingen | Jan 30, 2010 |
In this third, and as far as I know last, story of the Wild Wulfs of London we join Gabriel Wulf as he is on his way back to Wulfglen from his failed search for his brother, Jackson (from the previous novel of the series). Along the way Gabriel stops at the home of his childhood friend, only to find a young widow in crisis and beasts he never knew existed.

Amelia Sinclair was supposed to be on her honeymoon. Although she did not necessarily love her husband, the rather sickly Robert Collingsworth, she did at least like him and had looked forward to their life together. The last thing she expected on her wedding night was to be attacked by a creature pretending to be Robert or to be saved by Gabriel Wulf, a man she had only once glimpsed but who had haunted her dreams ever since.

As with the other novels and short stories of the series the author has deftly woven together a tale of both historical and paranormal romance wrapped up in a grand adventure. Although Gabriel is the archetypical historical hero, chivalrous and handsome, he has the whole tortured soul thing going on due to his curse which I just love. I also liked Amelia who managed to be strong from the start and just became a better character as the story went along. The plot was not very complicated although this seemed to have a further reaching storyline than the others. It seemed as though the author was gearing up for additional stories in the Wulf world which we will unfortunately never get the chance to see due to the author's passing. However, this particular story did seem to wrap up the series overall and what parts were left hanging were not terribly annoying.

This has been quite an enjoyable series and a definite must read for those interested in paranormal werewolf stories.
 
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Jenson_AKA_DL | 6 andere besprekingen | Nov 21, 2009 |
Amelia Sinclair is wed and widowed in the same day. Quite impulsive but now she has creatures stalking her and she has to rely on Gabriel Wulf. Neither of them are sure about the situation and are attracted but unsure if they're suited.

It's an interesting read and the characters are great fun.½
 
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wyvernfriend | 6 andere besprekingen | Oct 17, 2009 |
Ronda Thompson has always been a master at the paranormal, but she's taken it to a new level with her new "The Wild Wulfs of London" series. Beginning with THE DARK ONE, we're immersed into a paranormal regency world where nothing is what it seems, and where the choices you make might not have the outcome that you had proposed.

For Lady Rosalind Rutherford, things have gone from bad to worse. Her stepbrother, Franklin Chapman, has incurred large gambling debts that he cannot pay off. He's unable to sell the estate he's been living in, since it was a gift to his late mother from her late husband, the Duke of Montrose. Even if he'd been able to find a way to get around the fact that the estate wasn't his own, now that his stepsister Rosalind has come to live in the home, there's no discernible way to erase his debt. So Franklin, in typical evil-rogue style, decides to marry his dear stepsister off to the highest bidder, and use the acquired funds to clear his gambling debts.

The Chapman estate sits next to that of the Wulf's, a family of brothers cursed by an ancient witch many years ago. Love was their downfall, and now, whenever there's a full moon, the Wulf's turn into something much more dangerous than mere men. But when Lord Armond Wulf is introduced to Lady Rosalind at the first ball of the season, he's immediately smitten-or, more accurately, immediately filled with lust for the raven-haired beauty. Armond, however, knows that he's doomed to live a life of solitude, a life without the warmth and love of a woman. A woman caused their family's downfall, and he's determined to now allow the same to happen to him.

However, Lady Rosalind has other ideas. She has no plans to sit idly by while her stepbrother sells her off like cattle, so she sets out to do the one thing that might foil his plan-ruin her reputation so far beyond repair that no one will want to marry her. And she's found the perfect way towards this sinful fall from grace-Armond Wulf, a man who already has the type of reputation she wishes for herself.

Unfortunately, even though Armond has no desire to marry, he does desire Rosalind, and now that scandal threatens them both he has no choice but to offer her marriage. But what will happen when the full moon rises over London, and Rosalind discovers exactly what type of man she's fallen in love with? And as for Lord Wulf, what happens when a man destined by a curse to never love fully finds himself heading in that direction-even though he's vowed to never allow his heart to rule his emotions? As mysterious happenings surround Armond and Rosalind, as their hearts move ever closer to a full unity, and as the full moon approaches, you'll never guess of the surprises that are in store for you.

Ronda Thompson has created a delightful new series with her Wulf family, and I for one can't wait to see which brother will be featured next. Set in 1800's London, THE DARK ONE is a romantic paranormal romp that's sure to delight readers of the genre. Kudos to Ms. Thompson for this unique and exciting new series!
 
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GeniusJen | 7 andere besprekingen | Oct 13, 2009 |
As the story begins Katrine Summerville and Trey Westmoreland are on a blind date... well, not exactly. Both Katrine and Trey need an escort to an awards banquet and their mutual friend Cynthia sets them up. The blaze of attraction immediately ignites between them, but when they both are called to the podium to receive an award and discover the true identity of the other the blaze turns to intense dislike and an angry argument ensues for all to see.

Katrine and Trey have a history. Katrine writes sexy historical romances for a living under a pseudonym (Kat Summers). Trey is a book critic who writes reviews under the pseudonym T. West for the local newspaper. Years ago he wrote a scathing review of Kat's book reflecting his prejudice against the romance genre in general. His review created animosity between them and they have been sworn enemies ever since although they had never met. After seeing the sparks fly at the banquet, Trey's publisher and Katrine's editor come up with a great idea to handle the publicity. These two are going to go out on a series of four dates and each write an article on their views of the date. Katrine will write the romantic viewpoint while Trey will write the realistic view.

Both characters carry a boatload of baggage. Katrine was abandoned at 5 years old, and pregnant and widowed at eighteen. Trey is still bitter about his failed marriage and feels romance novels give women a distorted expectation of love. What follows is a hilarious ride through one hysterically funny date-from-hell to the next. I could tell you about their dates, but I won't :) They are just too damn funny and I don't want to spoil your enjoyment. I laughed and laughed over every one, each one more funny than the last.

The dialogue is snappy, sassy and clever, and the plot is fast paced and lighthearted with a serious undertone which makes it work so well. The chemistry between these two characters was perfect. I would rate them as one of my top 10 favorite couples of all time. I also got a huge kick out of the tongue in cheek spoof of romance novels as well. (Grade: A)
 
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reneebooks | 2 andere besprekingen | Sep 6, 2009 |
Wed and widowed in one day, stunning socialite Amelia Sinclair's honeymoon is anything but typical. Then again, neither is Amelia—rebellious and impulsive, marrying Robert Collingsworth was the one sensible thing she ever did. Now he's dead and she must escape the vicious creatures stalking her—even if it means relying on a stranger. Well, maybe not a complete stranger. Amelia first glimpsed Gabriel Wulf years ago on the busy streets of London; since then he has haunted her dreams. But in the flesh, Gabriel is much more tantalizing than she ever dreamt, and much more complicated…

Gabriel Wulf, the strong one, the sensible one—the, and the curse that plagued them, were his only priorities; there was little time for women and none for love. Now, he must protect an enticing beauty—and not just from the dangers that prowl the woods around them. Gabriel has secrets, dark ones he's sure Amelia must never know and could never understand. But she has already awakened his heart...and the beast within. Will Amelia be the key to his salvation, or the architect of her own demise?
 
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amarynt | 3 andere besprekingen | Jul 20, 2009 |
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